2030 World Cup Final: Spain openly puts pressure on Morocco

Luis de la Fuente took a position on Friday, September 18, during a press conference held in Las Rozas, near Madrid. “The final should be played in Spain. For many reasons,” said the coach, quoted by EFE.

The coach believes FIFA will notably have to take into account the infrastructure and sporting capacities offered by Spain. “For now, I have no doubt that it will be played in Spain,” he added.

De la Fuente nevertheless acknowledges that the decision has not yet been made and that there is still time before FIFA chooses among the different venues proposed by the three host countries.

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His statement extends the offensive led by Rafael Louzán. Two days earlier, the president of the Spanish Federation had assured that “the data and the arguments” favored his country and that it was “very clear” that Spain should host the final.

Louzán notably emphasizes Spain’s majority weight in organizing the tournament. The country will host more matches and host cities than Morocco and Portugal. He is now openly championing Madrid and the Santiago-Bernabéu for the final match.

Casablanca remains the main rival

This succession of statements comes a week after Fouzi Lekjaa’s announcement. The president of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation had said that Benslimane province would have “the honor” of hosting the final at the future Grand Stade Hassan II.

FIFA immediately tempered this announcement, recalling that no decision had yet been made regarding the final. The statements by Lekjaa, Louzán and Luis de la Fuente therefore do not bind the international body.

Morocco is relying mainly on the Grand Stade Hassan II, under construction near Casablanca. With an announced capacity of 115,000 seats, the venue is set to become one of the largest football stadiums in the world and Morocco’s main argument against Madrid’s Santiago-Bernabéu and Barcelona’s Camp Nou.

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Spain has more host cities, but Morocco is promoting a much larger stadium specifically designed with the World Cup in mind. This opposition is fueling an increasingly public standoff between the two main partners in the joint bid.

For now, none of the certainties displayed by either side amounts to an award. The final decision belongs exclusively to FIFA, which has communicated neither a precise timetable nor an official preference for the stadium that will host the 2030 World Cup final.